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This comprehensive guide to the best hiking boots on offer today presents information on the top hiking boots and offers suggestions on what to consider before you part with your hard-earned money. In it, we break down each boot’s key features, including components such as foot support, material, protection, best use, weight, and more.
Top Hiking Boots: Why You Need Them
Hiking boots are probably the most important bit of kit for hikers wanting to get to the end of the trail in one piece. The Salomon Question, being a hiker that wants stability and protection in your boots no longer means you have to go for heavy, non-flexible, and bulky footwear. In addition to the boots, you might also want to pick out the best hiking socks to go with them.
Also, it doesn’t mean you have to spend months breaking in a new pair of boots to get them to feel comfortable. We have observed a notable move toward lighter materials used in the construction. The lighter fabrics and materials still offer good support. Waterproof boots are the most popular. We cover a range of models in this guide that will suit hikers’ differing needs.
Now, we’ll take a look at some of the best hiking boots available in 2021
Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX
The Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX deserves its place in the guide, no questions asked, but I guess you want more details than that. This model has long embodied what top-class hiking boots can and should aim to be, equipping users with top-of-the-line performance across every one of our review metrics you might have to judge a boot. With plenty of comfort and support, the Quest 4D is a backpacker’s dream, and it lets you carry heavy weight with confidence.
Hikers who are moving off-trail on their trip will appreciate the Quest’s traction and durability. In wet weather conditions, the Quest is almost unchallenged. Designed and made for hardcore hiking and built to last the duration. Tt’s is hard to find something this boot won’t do when you out for a long through-hike. For hikers who extra stability when carrying a backpack, the Quest ticks all the right boxes.
However, every boot has a few drawbacks. There is no perfect boot, only boots specific to certain hikes or types of hikes. The boot is a bit stiff, and the extra protection will not suit everyone. If you enjoy moving fast on a hike, over pretty well-maintained terrain this probably is not the boot for you.
The boot does have several exposed seams in the construction, though, so some hikers might question its ability to last. However, I have spoken to one tester who clocked up over 500 miles. He said he didn’t notice significant deterioration to the boot. For all-around backpacking and hiking utility, the Salomon Quest is the real deal and hard to beat at the moment.
Where To Buy The Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX
Men’s Version Amazon
Women’s Version Amazon
KEEN Targhee Mid II Waterproof Boot
The KEEN Targhee Mid II is one of Keen’s best-selling hiking boots and one of the most versatile and budget-friendly options. The Targhee II has been a favourite with experienced hikers for years now and has a strong following in the community. It has featured on many Best Buy Award Lists and still deserves a place on our list. It remains great value for money and retails for half the price of similar hiking boots on the market.
The Targhee II is a lightweight hiking boot and is a mid-cut design, so if you’re looking for higher ankle coverage, this might not be for you. For those on a smaller budget (spending more doesn’t always mean you get better) who want to get out on the trails in a reliable and robust pair of boots, the Targhee II Mid is a reliable choice.
The boot is comfortable to wear and is so from the first step you take. This boot wraps your foot snuggly and in comfort thanks to the cushy dual density insole to the ankle collar. You will find a thick bumper at the front of the boot to protect your toes from rocks and roots on the path.
The lacing system uses three lower, one middle, and one upper locking eyelets. The middle webbing eyelet follows down and around the boot’s heel, providing the ability to cinch your heel down in the heel cup.
KEEN Targhee Mid II are waterproof and KEEN use their proprietary KEEN.DRY waterproof membrane. This allows the foot to breathe rather than GORE-TEX. Not using GORE-TEX has helped keep the cost down compared to other products that use GORE-TEX liners. The performance is not as good compared to boots using Gore-Tex material. However, the waterproofing system used is reflected in the price and a boot being waterproof is sometimes overrated.
Where To Buy KEEN Targhee Mid II Waterproof
Men’s Version Amazon
Women’s Version Amazon
Asolo Falcon GV
The sleek and modern Asolo Falcon GV is a blueprint for where I see hiking footwear heading: a little less weight and support than a traditional hiking boot, but with serious technical chops. It’s very well built, comfortable right out of the box (no break-in time), and can handle just about any terrain you will likely come across.
One downside in choosing the Asolo Falcon GV is stability, which I would rate as being average. If you’re a hiker who likes to wear a high-cut boot with lots of support, the Falcon isn’t for you. However, when laced uptight, backpacking with a comparatively heavy to moderate load on all types of terrain would not be an issue.
The Asolo Falcon GV hiking boot is for outdoor lovers who don’t need the high levels of stability and prefer a lightweight and comfortable do-all boot for everything from day hiking to serious backpacking. If you like to hike light, yet still prefer real hiking boots, over hiking shoes or trail runners, then this is the boot for you.
Where To Buy Asolo Falcon GV
Men’s Version Amazon
Women’s Version Amazon
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boot
The Lowa Renegade has the appearance of a conventional hiking boot at an impressively low weight. In contrast to the agile and more modernized Quest mentioned above, the leather Renegade offers much better isolation from the ground and feels sturdy. It gives up a little of the Quest’s fun factor and performance fit; however, the trade-off is worth it for hikers and backpackers carrying a heavy pack or wanting more underfoot protection from rocky trails.
One user said the boots supported his ankles and feet for a full 100km hike around the southern Andes. All of the terrain he covered including gravel, pebble beaches, mud, sand, deep water and ice; could be handled by the Lowa Renegade. Finally, he commented that they also work very well with crampons if you’re thinking of doing a bit of ice-trekking.
Lowa kept the weight down partly by moving some of the stabilizing duties to an external polyurethane frame. This design feature makes the Renegade perform like a real backpacking boot while remaining pretty lightweight.
The leather upper is relatively thin, which saves ounces and reduces break-in time. The sacrifice of all this lightness is a lack of long-term durability. High-mileage users have reported needing a new pair nearly every year. Yet they keep coming back for the cosy feel and the appropriate balance of weight and support. The Renegade is available in narrow, regular, and wide width sizes, so it is easy to find the perfect fit for your foot.
Where To Buy Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boot
Men’s Version Amazon
Women’s Version Amazon
Merrell Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Boot
The Merrell Moab 2 Mid is a great boot for beginner and intermediate hikers. If you’re going on more technical routes and to mountainous destinations, you might want to consider a heavier boot with a thicker sole. The boot is classed as waterproof, however, to save on cost Merrel have used M Select DRY membrane liner, rather than the premium price GORE-TEX.
For the day hikers and lightweight backpackers who stick mostly to well-groomed and maintained trails, we have included Merrell Moab 2 Mid hiking boot. What makes this hiking boot so popular is its lightweight and a comfortable fit at such an affordable price. Merrell has sold a considerable number of Moab 2, and all of these owners can’t be wrong. This boot doesn’t have the flash, bang, wallop that some of the other, more expensive boots in this guide have, yet it will not let you down for the price.
A boot that stacks up pretty well when the weather turns wet this is the option for you. The boot lacks support compared to some of the pricier models we have talked featured. So it might not be ideal for carrying a heavy backpack or scrambling across rocky or rough trails routes. Overall, it is a well-made hiking boot, but the lack of premium materials and fabrics means that it may need replacing sooner than other more expensive models.
Where To Buy Merrell Moab 2 Mid Waterproof
Men’s Version Amazon
Women’s Version Amazon
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